Yellow poplar

Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Tulip poplar

Origin – North America

General characteristics – sapwood is creamy white in colour and may contain strands of light yellowish-brown or olive-coloured heartwood. When exposed to light, the olive wood of heartwood turns brown. The straight-grained wood of the yellow poplar is characterised by its fine pattern. Depending on the place of origin, the properties and width of the sapwood will vary. Yellow poplar has many desirable properties, which is why it has so many uses. Because of its resemblance to the European poplar tree, the commonly accepted, though highly misleading, name for this tree (and wood) in the United States is "tulip poplar" or simply "poplar". However, it is important to note that yellow poplar botanically does not belong to the poplar genus.

Applications – Lightweight structures, furniture, interior joinery, kitchen furniture, doors, panelling, mouldings, bonded board, plywood (USA), turned parts and sculptures

Availability – product available on request

• Mechanical properties: versatile wood that can be planed, turned and drilled very well, bonded well, but may crack when nails are hammered in.
• Modulus of elasticity: 10.9 GPa
• Volumetric shrinkage: 9.8%
• Specific gravity: 450 kg/m³ (12%)
• Durability: Not resistant to the destructive effects of fungi
• Dry wood pests: not resistant
• Protections: class 2-3 – poorly (heartwood) or well (sapwood) accepting